HIGHFIELD’S famed Takashinga Cricket Club has churned out a lot of top cricketers such as former Zimbabwe captains Tatenda Taibu, Prosper Utseya, Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura since the turn of the century.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
Twenty-one-year-old seam bowling prodigy Blessing Muzarabani is the latest gem to emerge out of the club and just four months into his international career, he already bears the marks of a player destined for greatness.
From when he was just nine years old, the lanky cricketer knew he would one day represent the country in the sport.
Muzarabani made his international debut in a Test match against South Africa on Boxing Day and since then he has represented Zimbabwe 11 times in one-day international (ODI) cricket before Friday’s World Cup Qualifier Super Six encounter against Ireland.
Since taking the big wicket of Sri Lanka captain Matthew Angelo in his second ODI appearance on January 17, Muzarabani has added 12 more wickets with best bowling figures of 4/47 against Sri Lanka.
Growing in the area around Takashinga in Highfield, Muzarabani did not need much coercing to choose and follow the path of cricket.
“I used to stay in Highfield in the same neighbourhood with the likes of Elton Chigumbura, who was already a cricket icon, and Takashinga Cricket Club was also around the corner. I also had an uncle, Taurai Muzarabani, who was playing cricket and he was a big influence,” the former Churchill student told The Sports Hub.
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Just like young blessing, Taurai Muzarabani is also a right-arm fast-medium bowler and has played eight ODIs and nine T20s for Zimbabwe since his international debut against India in July 2015.
“We used to watch a lot of cricket when we were young and then we go play in the streets. The club (Takashinga) gave me a start and then after that I played at school level until I got to where I am now,” he added.
Muzarabani has been a revelation for Zimbabwe in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers and has been a hero twice, in the two-run win over Afghanistan and a tie with Scotland in the group stages.
Entrusted with the ball in the final over on both occasions, the young seamer exuded the calm, maturity and guile of an experienced campaigner to pull both matches out of the fire for Zimbabwe.
Simply put, the past four months have been like a dream for him.
“For a young player like me it’s been a life-transforming experience representing Zimbabwe and competing in the World Cup qualifiers. But the focus for me is to win matches for Zimbabwe and be involved in the country’s success. The last four months in international cricket have been like a dream.
“Obviously it was always my dream to grow up to play for Zimbabwe. I knew one day I was going to play for Zimbabwe and I kept telling myself that I had to work hard to get there and here I am. I started playing cricket when I was about just nine and I never doubted that one day I would play for Zimbabwe,” Muzarabani said.
Many of the stars that came out of Takashinga never quite reached their full potential but with all the physical attributes of a top bowler, Muzarabani is aiming for the very top of the international bowling fraternity.
“I want to be one of the best seamers in the world. I want to be there at least in the top 10 on the world rankings and eventually be on top. I want to play in those big tournaments like the world cup and also win trophies for the country,” he said.
Thriving under the tutelage of one of the best bowlers to emerge from Zimbabwe, Heath Streak, Muzarabani has been put in the spotlight a number of times coming out with flying colours.
He explains how he manages to hold nerve bowling under pressure at the death.
“When there is pressure you don’t have to think too much and you also do not have to be afraid of failing. Failing is part of learning. You have to be daring to try to do the difficult things so that if it comes right you are a hero for the team — that is how I handle those pressure moments.
“Otherwise I have learnt so far that you have to be tough and confident at this level. Of course, people will criticise you at this level sometimes and you have to be prepared for all that and remain focused,” he said.
A story is told of how when Muzarabani was playing junior cricket he once hit a white man with a cricket ball and his peers christened him “Mabhunu”, loosely translated “white men”.
The nickname has stuck on him to this day.
Muzarabani’s career is still young and he will have a lot more “white men” to hit with the ball in international cricket and live up to his nickname.
